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EVENTS
Learning from and with the community is a central distinguisher of schools within the BPL Network. Thus, we've made it an essential part of BPL convenings. As part of Big Bang, attendees will spend time - not in the hotel or convention center - but out in the community through Leaving to Learn sessions.
Big Picture Learning staff have spent a great deal of time cultivating relationships with community-based organizations in the community surrounding Big Bang and are excited to share the below opportunities with you all.
HOW DO I SELECT MY L2L?
You must be registered for Big Bang in order to select your Leaving to Learn session. Once you've completed your registration, you'll immediately receive an email asking you to complete your Attendee Profile. Leaving to Learn selection is part of that profile and you'll select your top three options. We'll do our best to match you with your top choices. If you've already registered for Big Bang, check your email archive using the search term "Attendee Profile" to locate the link you'll need to re-access your profile. With any questions or for assistance, please reach out to events@bigpicturelearning.org.
Please note when making your selection: if any of the Leaving to Learns below are labelled "walking", that means it's close enough to the hotel that we'll not be taking a bus to it. Please take this into consideration when selecting, particularly knowing that it can get quite warm in Dallas in July.
African American Museum of Dallas
Space for: 25
Explore one of the largest African American museums in the Southwest and the only institution of its kind in the region dedicated to preserving and exhibiting African American art, culture, and history. With one of the nation’s most significant collections of African American Folk Art, the museum offers powerful exhibitions that celebrate creativity, resilience, and heritage across generations. This experience invites reflection on how museums serve as vital spaces for storytelling, preservation, and community connection.
All Stars Project, Inc
Space for: 50
Discover how All Stars Project uses performance as a powerful tool for youth development, engaging young people in talent shows, leadership programs, and career experiences that build confidence and real-world skills. By creating free, outside-of-school programs for youth from underserved communities, All Stars partners with caring adults and companies to open new pathways for growth and opportunity. This visit highlights how performance can bridge racial, economic, and social divides while building stronger, more connected communities.
Austin Street Center
Space for: 20
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Engage with the work of Austin Street Center, one of Dallas’s largest low-barrier shelters, as it supports individuals experiencing homelessness on their path toward stability and independence. The 24/7, 60,000-square-foot facility expands access to housing support, medical care, and personalized services designed to remove barriers to permanent housing. This visit offers a closer look at a collaborative, client-centered approach that goes beyond meeting basic needs to foster dignity, connection, and long-term independence.
Big Thought
Space for: 25
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Big Thought has spent more than three decades equipping young people ages 4 to 24 with the skills and confidence to shape their own futures and contribute to a better world. As a national leader in arts education, social-emotional learning, youth justice, and out-of-school time programming, the organization designs hands-on experiences that spark creativity and cultivate critical thinking. Time here offers a window into how inclusive learning systems can empower youth to discover their passions and step into their full potential.
Brother Bill's Helping Hands
Space for: 40
Brother Bill’s Helping Hand serves West Dallas by providing access to food, healthcare, and educational programs that strengthen stability and expand opportunity. From pantry services to community-based support initiatives, the organization focuses on ensuring neighbors have the essentials they need to move toward greater self-sufficiency. This visit highlights a practical, relationship-driven approach to meeting immediate needs while investing in long-term growth and well-being.
Cafe Momentum
Space for: 30
Please note: we will be walking to this L2L
Café Momentum pairs award-winning dining with a powerful mission: equipping justice-involved youth ages 15–19 with life skills, education, and meaningful employment opportunities. Inside its nationally recognized restaurant and training center, young people develop confidence, professionalism, and a pathway toward long-term success within a strong support system. This experience reveals how a high-performing social enterprise can transform lives while redefining what workforce development looks like in practice.
Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum
Space for: 25
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The Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum brings history to life through powerful exhibits and survivor testimonies that illuminate both the atrocities of the Holocaust and the enduring strength of the human spirit. By connecting local stories to global events, the museum creates space for honest reflection on courage, injustice, and resilience. Its work underscores the importance of civic responsibility, ethical leadership, and the ongoing defense of human dignity.
Dallas Museum of Art
Space for: 40
Please note: we will be walking to this L2L
As one of the largest art museums in the country, the Dallas Museum of Art anchors the nation’s largest arts district and serves as a vital cultural institution in North Texas. Its wide-ranging exhibitions and public programs invite people of all ages and backgrounds to engage with art as a catalyst for creativity, dialogue, and shared experience. A visit here prompts reflection on the role arts institutions play in strengthening community connection and civic life.
George W. Bush Presidential Center
Space for: 40​
Located on the SMU campus, the George W. Bush Presidential Center brings together a presidential library and museum with a policy institute focused on strengthening democracy and expanding opportunity. Through archival materials, public engagement, and solution-oriented initiatives, the Center highlights the intersections of history, leadership, and civic responsibility. The experience invites consideration of how presidential libraries shape public understanding of governance, global leadership, and the ongoing work of a democratic society.
Juanita Craft House & South Dallas Cultural Center
Space for: 40
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The Juanita Craft Civil Rights House & Museum preserves the home of a pivotal local leader whose grassroots organizing helped shape the Civil Rights Movement, offering a powerful lens into community-based activism and social change. Nearby, the South Dallas Cultural Center showcases the creativity and global influence of the African Diaspora through vibrant programs in the performing, literary, and visual arts. Together, these spaces illuminate how leadership, culture, and community institutions advance justice and sustain collective memory.
Learn to Leave to Learn
Space for: 20
Please note: this is a walking L2L
Even in Big Picture Learning schools, young people don’t always know exactly what sparks their interest—and that uncertainty can be a powerful starting point. Beginning with a blank slate, this small group will partner with BPL staff to imagine and design a Leaving to Learn experience in real time inspired by curiosity in the moment. Together, you’ll head into downtown Dallas to test your ideas, reflect on what resonates, and see what new interests begin to take shape.
Luz y Tierra
Space for: 15
Rooted in culture, craft, and connection, Luz y Tierra bridges Mexican artistry with local, small-batch candle production. Handcrafted candles made from 100% soy wax are poured into vessels shaped by skilled artisans across Mexico, each piece reflecting regional traditions and intentional, slow-made processes. This visit highlights how heritage, entrepreneurship, and cross-border collaboration can come together to create products that carry story, identity, and meaning into everyday spaces.
Momentous Institute
Space for: 20
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Momentous Institute works at the intersection of education and mental health, grounded in the belief that a child’s social-emotional well-being is foundational to long-term success. Through an integrated approach that weaves together therapeutic services, family engagement, and innovative schooling, the organization supports young people in living healthier, more connected lives. Their whole-child model offers a compelling example of how systems can be designed to help every child thrive.
No Limits Arts & Crafts
Space for: 30
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In partnership with the Oak Cliff Cultural Center, this hands-on piñata-making workshop blends creativity, culture, and learning under the guidance of Dallas’s premier piñata artist, Alfonso Hernandez. Known for transforming a traditional party staple into life-size, museum-worthy papier-mâché works—from superheroes to horror icons—Hernandez elevates craft into art. The experience highlights how artistic expression can connect community, storytelling, and academic skills in joyful and unexpected ways.
Perot Museum of Nature and Science
Space for: 40
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Five levels of hands-on discovery make the Perot Museum of Nature and Science a playground for curiosity, where visitors can race a T. rex, simulate an earthquake, explore the universe, and examine what it means to be human. Designed to engage learners of all ages, the museum brings science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to life through interactive, highly accessible experiences. Its approach demonstrates how informal learning environments can spark lifelong interest and expand pathways into knowledge and opportunity.
The Sixth Floor Museum
Space for: 40
Please note: we will be walking to this L2L
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Located in the former Texas School Book Depository within Dealey Plaza, The Sixth Floor Museum chronicles the assassination and legacy of President John F. Kennedy against the backdrop of the 1960s. Through primary sources, historical interpretation, and thoughtfully curated exhibits, the museum deepens understanding of leadership, public memory, and a pivotal moment in American history. Its educational focus underscores the role museums play in fostering civic awareness and informed engagement.
Texas Discovery Gardens
Space for: 30
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Texas Discovery Gardens offers a 7.5-acre organically maintained oasis in Fair Park where native plants, tropical butterflies, and interactive exhibits invite visitors to connect with the natural world. As the first public garden in Texas certified 100% organic, it models sustainable practices that conserve water and protect the environment while providing rich, hands-on science learning. From the Butterfly House and Insectarium to outdoor playscapes and historic spaces, the gardens demonstrate how immersive outdoor environments can inspire environmental stewardship across generations.
The Stewpot
Space for: 20
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For 50 years, The Stewpot has supported Dallas neighbors experiencing poverty and homelessness through a welcoming community and a wide range of wraparound services. In addition to its Food Pantry, which serves hundreds of individuals each weekday, the organization provides meals, housing support, healthcare access, stabilization services, and enrichment programs that address the root causes of homelessness. A visit to its campus offers a closer look at how comprehensive, relationship-centered care can create pathways toward self-sufficiency and renewed well-being.
VolunteerNow
Space for: 20
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VolunteerNow plays a central role in mobilizing volunteer engagement across Dallas, equipping nonprofits, partnering with corporations, and activating thousands of individuals to meet critical community needs. As the force behind VolunteerPower, the organization advances research, strategy, and innovative solutions designed to drive population-level change. Its work offers a compelling look at how coordinated volunteerism and bold thinking can expand impact and strengthen entire communities.
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